Thursday, April 3, 2008

When Benjamin was born--and had already died, we received so many beautiful words and expressions of love from friends and family. Each one was like receiving a warm hug and a shoulder to cry on. Each one was a testimony that he was Real, that he had become part of our eternal family. I know I realized at the time that I now had a new son to call my own, but was so overpowered by the sadness of his already having passed on through the veil, it was hard to rejoice.

Last November

Today I look out the window and can see the beautiful blooms of the tulips our sweet friends planted when Benjamin was born. They give a feeling of celebration. Normally we say, "Welcome to the world" when a baby is born. We can't say that to Benjamin. . . .but we can say to him, "Welcome to our family!"Yesterday

The fresh exuberance of the blooms also give me a powerful reminder of the reality of resurrection. They make me think of growth and new life.

Joseph F. Smith said: "When [a] mother is deprived of the pleasure and joy of rearing her babe to manhood or to womanhood in this life, through the hand of death, that privilege will be renewed to her hereafter, and she will enjoy it to a fuller fruition than it would be possible for her to do here. When she does it there, it will be with the certain knowledge that the results will be without failure; whereas here, the results are unknown until after we have passed the test." Someday we will have all the joy of watching little Benjamin grow up! I can't wait!!

Those are beautiful flowers. I still have a plant that my sis-in-law sent me in memory of James. It's nice to have physical reminders of a loved one! We need to get together soon. You're welcome to come by here and visit!

Quotables

5/2/11 - After we sang the opening song for Family Home Evening, Hummer said, "How come that song sounds out of tune when we sing it in Primary, but it sounds in tune when we sing it at home?"

11/20/10 - Rosebud had some pretty dramatic hair after waking up, with a tuft sticking up on top, and a tuft on each side. Hummer said: "Roseberry is a triceratops!"

10/10 - DC called on Hummer to say the blessing. { Silence. } Me: "Hummer, Daddy called on you to say the prayer." Hummer: "Oh, I thought you said 'Hayden', who is in my class. I wondered who you were talking about."

10/10 - when the boys were a few minutes into a game of Monopoly. . . . Fluffy (in awe): "It's almost like magic how fast Hummer loses!"